Bradycardia

What is bradycardia? Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or A normal heartbeat begins with an electrical impulse from the sinus node, a small area in the heart's right atrium (right upper chamber). The electricity travels through the heart and causes the muscle to contract between 60 and 100 times each minute. What are the symptoms of bradycardia? Sometimes bradycardia causes no symptoms and your doctor may not need to treat it. Others may experience the following: • Fainting ( • Dizziness • Weakness or fatigue • Disturbed sleep Babies with bradycardia may act sleepy and lack interest in feeding. What causes bradycardia? Some children and elderly people, as well as athletes and people who exercise often, may have a low resting heart rate that is not a medical condition. Other, more serious causes of bradycardia include drug reactions, advanced age, conditions of the heart and other ailments. Sick sinus syndrome Sick sinus syndrome occurs when the sinus node — the heart's natural pacemaker — doesn't reliably trigger every heartbeat. It triggers some heartbeats but not all, so the heart rate is slow and irregular. Sick sinus syndrome is more common in elderly people but may occur at any age. Risk factors for sick sinus syndrome include: • Blood pressure medications • Age over 70 • Previous heart surgery • Heart block Heart block occurs when the electrical signal that contracts the atria (upper chambers of the heart) doesn't always travel to the ventricles (lower ...

Overview Sick sinus syndrome is a type of heart rhythm disorder. It affects the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node), which controls the heartbeat. Sick sinus syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses (long periods between heartbeats) or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon. The risk of developing it increases with age. Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need an implanted device called a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm. Symptoms Most people with sick sinus syndrome have few or no symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or come and go — making them difficult to recognize at first. Signs and symptoms of sick sinus syndrome may include: • A sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeats (palpitations) • Chest pain or discomfort • Confusion • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Fainting or near fainting • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Slower pulse (bradycardia) When to see a doctor Talk to your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms of sick sinus syndrome. Many medical conditions can cause these problems. It's important to get a timely and accurate diagnosis. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Typical heartbeat In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node and into the ventricles, causing t...

ECG strip showing a normal heartbeat ECG strip showing bradycardia Bradycardia is a In general, for adults, a resting heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute (BPM) qualifies as bradycardia. There are exceptions. Your heart rate may fall below 60 BPM during deep sleep. Physically active adults (and athletes) often have a resting heart rate slower than 60 BPM. Causes of bradycardia Causes for bradycardia include: • Problems with the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart’s natural pacemaker • Problems in the conduction pathways of the heart that don’t allow electrical impulses to pass properly from the atria to the ventricles • Metabolic problems such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) • Damage to the heart from aging, • Certain • • Infection of heart tissue, known as • Complications from heart surgery • Chemical imbalances in the blood, such as potassium or calcium • Repeated breathing disruptions during sleep, known as obstructive • Inflammatory disease, such as rheumatic fever or lupus Symptoms of bradycardia A heart rate that’s too slow can cause insufficient blood flow to the brain. Symptoms of bradycardia include: • Fatigue or feeling weak • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Confusion • Fainting (or near-fainting) • Shortness of breath • Tires easily during exercise • Chest pain Complications of bradycardia Possible complications of bradycardia can include: • • • Treatment of bradycardia Borderline or occasional bradycardia may not require treatment. Severe or prolonge...

Bradyarrhythmia is a type of heart arrhythmia. It is characterized by an abnormally slow and irregular heart beat. It may be a warning sign of an underlying heart health issue or another serious health problem. For most people, bradyarrhythmia is when the heart rate is irregular and less than This article explains what bradyarrhythmia means and compares it to similar terms a person might hear from a doctor. It also highlights possible causes and symptoms, offers advice on when to talk with a doctor, lists treatment options, and explains the outlook for people with bradyarrhythmia. Share on Pinterest Guido Mieth/Getty Images Bradyarrhythmia is when the heartbeat is lower than 60 bpm and has an A normal heart rate is However, simply having a slow heart rate does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Indeed, in some people, it is a sign of excellent cardiovascular health. It is not unusual for the heart to drop below 60 bpm during sleep. Some people may also find that their heart rate occasionally dips below 60 bpm when they are awake without noticing any other symptoms. Both these conditions mean that a person’s heart rate is slower than is typical. Bradyarrhythmia usually signifies an underlying condition, whereas bradycardia can be a normal bodily function during certain times, such as during sleep. Bradyarrhythmia means slower than usual heart rhythm with arrhythmia. Bradycardia means slow heart rate. People with bradyarrhythmia may present with a slow heart rate and a...

ECG strip showing a normal heartbeat ECG strip showing bradycardia Bradycardia is a In general, for adults, a resting heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute (BPM) qualifies as bradycardia. There are exceptions. Your heart rate may fall below 60 BPM during deep sleep. Physically active adults (and athletes) often have a resting heart rate slower than 60 BPM. Causes of bradycardia Causes for bradycardia include: • Problems with the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart’s natural pacemaker • Problems in the conduction pathways of the heart that don’t allow electrical impulses to pass properly from the atria to the ventricles • Metabolic problems such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) • Damage to the heart from aging, • Certain • • Infection of heart tissue, known as • Complications from heart surgery • Chemical imbalances in the blood, such as potassium or calcium • Repeated breathing disruptions during sleep, known as obstructive • Inflammatory disease, such as rheumatic fever or lupus Symptoms of bradycardia A heart rate that’s too slow can cause insufficient blood flow to the brain. Symptoms of bradycardia include: • Fatigue or feeling weak • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Confusion • Fainting (or near-fainting) • Shortness of breath • Tires easily during exercise • Chest pain Complications of bradycardia Possible complications of bradycardia can include: • • • Treatment of bradycardia Borderline or occasional bradycardia may not require treatment. Severe or prolonge...

Bradyarrhythmia is a type of heart arrhythmia. It is characterized by an abnormally slow and irregular heart beat. It may be a warning sign of an underlying heart health issue or another serious health problem. For most people, bradyarrhythmia is when the heart rate is irregular and less than This article explains what bradyarrhythmia means and compares it to similar terms a person might hear from a doctor. It also highlights possible causes and symptoms, offers advice on when to talk with a doctor, lists treatment options, and explains the outlook for people with bradyarrhythmia. Share on Pinterest Guido Mieth/Getty Images Bradyarrhythmia is when the heartbeat is lower than 60 bpm and has an A normal heart rate is However, simply having a slow heart rate does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Indeed, in some people, it is a sign of excellent cardiovascular health. It is not unusual for the heart to drop below 60 bpm during sleep. Some people may also find that their heart rate occasionally dips below 60 bpm when they are awake without noticing any other symptoms. Both these conditions mean that a person’s heart rate is slower than is typical. Bradyarrhythmia usually signifies an underlying condition, whereas bradycardia can be a normal bodily function during certain times, such as during sleep. Bradyarrhythmia means slower than usual heart rhythm with arrhythmia. Bradycardia means slow heart rate. People with bradyarrhythmia may present with a slow heart rate and a...

What is bradycardia? Bradycardia is a type of abnormal heart rhythm, or A normal heartbeat begins with an electrical impulse from the sinus node, a small area in the heart's right atrium (right upper chamber). The electricity travels through the heart and causes the muscle to contract between 60 and 100 times each minute. What are the symptoms of bradycardia? Sometimes bradycardia causes no symptoms and your doctor may not need to treat it. Others may experience the following: • Fainting ( • Dizziness • Weakness or fatigue • Disturbed sleep Babies with bradycardia may act sleepy and lack interest in feeding. What causes bradycardia? Some children and elderly people, as well as athletes and people who exercise often, may have a low resting heart rate that is not a medical condition. Other, more serious causes of bradycardia include drug reactions, advanced age, conditions of the heart and other ailments. Sick sinus syndrome Sick sinus syndrome occurs when the sinus node — the heart's natural pacemaker — doesn't reliably trigger every heartbeat. It triggers some heartbeats but not all, so the heart rate is slow and irregular. Sick sinus syndrome is more common in elderly people but may occur at any age. Risk factors for sick sinus syndrome include: • Blood pressure medications • Age over 70 • Previous heart surgery • Heart block Heart block occurs when the electrical signal that contracts the atria (upper chambers of the heart) doesn't always travel to the ventricles (lower ...

Overview Sick sinus syndrome is a type of heart rhythm disorder. It affects the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node), which controls the heartbeat. Sick sinus syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses (long periods between heartbeats) or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon. The risk of developing it increases with age. Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need an implanted device called a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm. Symptoms Most people with sick sinus syndrome have few or no symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or come and go — making them difficult to recognize at first. Signs and symptoms of sick sinus syndrome may include: • A sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeats (palpitations) • Chest pain or discomfort • Confusion • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Fainting or near fainting • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Slower pulse (bradycardia) When to see a doctor Talk to your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms of sick sinus syndrome. Many medical conditions can cause these problems. It's important to get a timely and accurate diagnosis. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Typical heartbeat In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node and into the ventricles, causing t...

Overview Sick sinus syndrome is a type of heart rhythm disorder. It affects the heart's natural pacemaker (sinus node), which controls the heartbeat. Sick sinus syndrome causes slow heartbeats, pauses (long periods between heartbeats) or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Sick sinus syndrome is relatively uncommon. The risk of developing it increases with age. Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need an implanted device called a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm. Symptoms Most people with sick sinus syndrome have few or no symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or come and go — making them difficult to recognize at first. Signs and symptoms of sick sinus syndrome may include: • A sensation of rapid, fluttering heartbeats (palpitations) • Chest pain or discomfort • Confusion • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Fainting or near fainting • Fatigue • Shortness of breath • Slower pulse (bradycardia) When to see a doctor Talk to your health care provider if you have any signs or symptoms of sick sinus syndrome. Many medical conditions can cause these problems. It's important to get a timely and accurate diagnosis. If you have new or unexplained chest pain or think you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Typical heartbeat In a typical heart rhythm, a tiny cluster of cells at the sinus node sends out an electrical signal. The signal then travels through the atria to the atrioventricular (AV) node and into the ventricles, causing t...

Bradyarrhythmia is a type of heart arrhythmia. It is characterized by an abnormally slow and irregular heart beat. It may be a warning sign of an underlying heart health issue or another serious health problem. For most people, bradyarrhythmia is when the heart rate is irregular and less than This article explains what bradyarrhythmia means and compares it to similar terms a person might hear from a doctor. It also highlights possible causes and symptoms, offers advice on when to talk with a doctor, lists treatment options, and explains the outlook for people with bradyarrhythmia. Share on Pinterest Guido Mieth/Getty Images Bradyarrhythmia is when the heartbeat is lower than 60 bpm and has an A normal heart rate is However, simply having a slow heart rate does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Indeed, in some people, it is a sign of excellent cardiovascular health. It is not unusual for the heart to drop below 60 bpm during sleep. Some people may also find that their heart rate occasionally dips below 60 bpm when they are awake without noticing any other symptoms. Both these conditions mean that a person’s heart rate is slower than is typical. Bradyarrhythmia usually signifies an underlying condition, whereas bradycardia can be a normal bodily function during certain times, such as during sleep. Bradyarrhythmia means slower than usual heart rhythm with arrhythmia. Bradycardia means slow heart rate. People with bradyarrhythmia may present with a slow heart rate and a...